Events

Gather. Give. Grow Stronger Together.

For nearly 50 years, Community Bridges has been a cornerstone of care on the Central Coast. Every year, our ten programs empower more than 20,000 children, families, and older adults with essential services—nutritious meals, reliable transportation, quality healthcare, family support, and crisis recovery.

Our mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure every neighbor has the dignity, stability, and opportunity they deserve.

One of the best ways to support this mission is by joining us at our annual fundraising events.

Why Our Events Matter

Each event is more than a celebration. It’s a chance to reconnect with our community and to show the impact of the work we do together. Sponsors, attendees, donors, and volunteers all play a part in raising the funds that keep essential services alive. By joining us, you’re helping to open doors, strengthen connections, and ensure our neighbors see—and feel—the care and commitment that goes into building a stronger community for all.

  • Sponsoring connects your brand with a trusted community-based organization while demonstrating your commitment to social responsibility to thousands via event marketing and sponsored social media posts, as well as the hundreds who join us.

  • Attending means you enjoy unforgettable experiences with local food, wine, and community while supporting vital services.

  • Volunteering creates welcoming, joyful events that bring neighbors together for a cause.

  • Donating ensures every dollar goes toward programs that directly impact the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors.

people viewing charity auction items
people dining at an event

Our Signature Events

Farm to Fork Gala – Summer

Join us for an elegant evening that celebrates the Pajaro Valley’s agricultural abundance and vibrant community spirit. Now in its 11th year, the Farm to Fork Gala is our largest fundraising event, bringing together local farmers, vintners, chefs, and supporters for a farm-to-table experience unlike any other. Proceeds benefit all ten Community Bridges programs, ensuring the more than 20,000 local residents that depend on our essential services and resources have access to food, transportation, healthcare, family support, and crisis recovery. 

Food from the Heart Luncheon – Winter

This heartfelt Valentine’s celebration, hosted by Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County, brings together local leaders, businesses, and community champions to fight senior hunger and isolation. Each year, Meals on Wheels serves 200,000 meals to roughly 2,000 older adults, helping them remain healthy, independent, and connected. The need has never been greater: nearly 1 in 4 seniors in Santa Cruz County lives alone, and many face limited mobility, fixed incomes, or chronic health conditions. For many participants, Meals on Wheels provides not only their primary source of nutrition but also critical human connection through friendly visits from volunteers.

The Mountain Affair – Fall

The Mountain Affair is a festive San Lorenzo Valley tradition that brings neighbors together to celebrate resilience and raise funds for Mountain Community Resources (MCR). Guests enjoy fine foods, local wines, and handcrafted auction items while supporting a vital hub that provides more than 12,000 annual points of contact through crisis support, disaster recovery, and family services. As the primary annual fundraiser for MCR, proceeds sustain weekly food distribution, parent education, housing navigation, health care enrollment, mental health counseling, and emergency preparedness.

Make Your Impact: Become An Event Sponsor

Our 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities can help your organization make a meaningful difference. Inside, you’ll find opportunities to sponsor our signature fundraising events, partner at a leadership level, or contribute through in-kind support. Each option offers unique ways to highlight your brand, connect with the community, and directly fund the essential services that reach more than 20,000 children, families, and older adults every year.

Explore Sponsorship Opportunities

Whether you choose to host a branded reception, sponsor a table, contribute an auction item, or step forward as a Community Leader partner, your investment fuels programs that provide meals, transportation, healthcare, disaster relief, and family support across the Central Coast. 

From delivering meals to seniors to providing early education, health care, transportation, and family support, Community Bridges offers a lifeline across all stages of life. We invite you to explore the sponsorship levels in our packet and connect with us to discuss the option that best fits your goals. Our team is ready to answer your questions and help you design a sponsorship package that maximizes your visibility while making the greatest impact for our community.

Contact us today at donations@cbridges.org or 831-227-6900 to learn more about how you can make an impact.

💐 Take a sneak peek at what’s up for grabs at Food from the Heart, our live auction benefiting Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
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HAPPENING TOMORROW!Thank you to all the families who attended our last event — and if you missed it, we’d love to see you at this one!🌱 In honor of Positive Parenting Awareness Month, Community Bridges warmly invites families to join us for a FREE Positive Parenting Program & Resources Fair. This family-friendly event is a space to learn, connect, and grow together. Families can meet trusted local agencies, connect with Triple P Parent Educators, and learn about counseling and family support services available in our community.🎉 Enjoy an afternoon filled with fun activities, snacks, games, and prizes for the whole family — all in a welcoming and supportive environment.📍 La Manzana Community Resources📅 Saturday, January 31⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM🎈 Free and open to all families ... See MoreSee Less
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When a parent is detained, families don’t have time to wait.Rent is due. Kids need food. Stability is at risk.Puentes Para Familias turns community care into immediate action—providing up to $2,500 in emergency aid to families in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties facing sudden crisis due to immigration detention.This program launched with $10,000 in local seed funding, a response to fear felt right here in our region. That early support helped create a trusted, rapid-response fund so families don’t face crisis alone. With this seed funding and other small donations, six local families received immediate help. Those funds are now fully distributed, and additional support is urgently needed so families continue to have a trusted place to turn in moments of crisis.When you give: ✔️ 100% of your donation goes directly to families ✔️ Assistance is capped at $2,500 so support reaches more households ✔️ Aid is prioritized based on urgency and greatest needYour gift provides more than financial help—it delivers dignity, stability, and hope when families need it most.👉 Stand with families today: Give.CommunityBridges.org/Puentes ... See MoreSee Less
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Community Bridges is excited to welcome Erin Carlson-Jones, LCSW, as our new Clinical Director. With more than 20 years of experience in addiction treatment, mental health, crisis response, and community-based care, Erin will lead the growth and strengthening of behavioral health and counseling services through our Family Resource Collective (FRC).The FRC serves more than 10,000 children and families each year across Santa Cruz County, North Monterey County, and San Benito County. Under Erin’s leadership, we’re deepening our commitment to ensuring that cost, insurance status, language, or cultural background never prevent someone from receiving the mental health care they need.Her leadership arrives at a time when access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care is more important than ever—and we’re grateful to have her guiding this work. To read more about Erin here: bit.ly/ECJ-MentalHealth👉 Learn more about FRC counseling services at communitybridges.org/frc#CommunityBridges #MentalHealthForAll #BehavioralHealth #FamilyResourceCollective #CompassionInAction ... See MoreSee Less
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50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

Every Family Needs a Plan

Urge the Attorney General to adopt California’s Childcare Safety Plan.

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giving tuesday

Strengthen
Our Roots

Since 1977, your generosity has helped our community grow stronger.